Information processing apparatus, control method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

Provided is an information processing apparatus that is used by being adhered to the body of a user. The information processing apparatus includes a sound pickup sensor that has a sound pickup function, a communicating part that wirelessly transmits audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor to the outside, a control part that controls the sound pickup sensor and the communicating part, a power source part that supplies a power source to at least one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or the control part, a housing part that accommodates therein at least one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, or the power source part, and an adhering part that fixes the housing part to the user. The sound pickup part picks up a sound of the user using, for example, flesh conduction or bone conduction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2018/011745 filed on Mar. 23, 2018, which claimspriority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2017-101968 filedin the Japan Patent Office on May 23, 2017. Each of the above-referencedapplications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technique disclosed herein relates to an information processingapparatus that is used by being attached to the body of a user, acontrol method therefor, and a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

A wearable device have recently been prevailing that is used by beingattached to various points of the body of a user such as an arm and thehead. The wearable device is used for detection of biologicalinformation, position information, and other users' states, recodingsuch as imaging or recording of the sound of the user's surrounding,presentation of various types of information to the user using a soundetc., and the like. The wearable device is used in a wide range offields such as, for example, a field of lifelogging and a field ofsupporting sports.

A neckband-type wearable device has been proposed that is attached to beworn around the neck of a user using, for example, an attachment unitthat runs half around the neck of the user from both of the left andright sides of the neck to the back side thereof (on the side of theuser's back) (for example, see PTL 1).

The wearable device includes an operation part that enables a touchoperation and a sliding operation with which the user performs an inputoperation, and has a sound recognition function, and the like. The usercan give various instructions to the wearable device through the inputoperation or the sound input through the operation part, such as startor stoppage of capturing or recording of images, start or stoppage ofsound reproduction, and requesting for information presentation orstoppage of the presentation.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

WO 2016/063587

[PTL 2]

JP-T-2004-523289

[PTL 3]

JP-A-2006-345269

SUMMARY Technical Problems

An object of the technique disclosed herein is to provide an informationprocessing apparatus that is used by being attached to the body of auser, a control method therefor, and a recording medium.

Solution to Problems

A first aspect of the technique disclosed herein is an informationprocessing apparatus including:

a sound pickup sensor that has a sound pickup function;

a communicating part that wirelessly transmits audio data picked up bythe sound pickup sensor to the outside;

a control part that controls the sound pickup sensor and thecommunicating part;

a power source part that supplies a power source to at least one of thesound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or the control part;

a housing part that accommodates therein at least one of the soundpickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, or the powersource part; and

an adhering part that fixes the housing part to a user.

The sound pickup sensor is able to pick up the sound using fleshconduction of the user. Moreover, the information processing apparatusmay further include an biological sensor that detects the biologicalinformation of the user, in which the control part may controlprocessing for the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor onthe basis of the biological information detected by the biologicalsensor.

Moreover, a second aspect of the technique disclosed herein is a controlmethod for an information processing apparatus including a sound pickupsensor that has a sound pickup function; a communicating part thatwirelessly transmits audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor tothe outside; a power source part that supplies a power source to atleast one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or thecontrol part; a housing part that accommodates therein at least one ofthe sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, orthe power source part; and an adhering part that fixes the housing partto a user, and the control method includes steps of:

processing the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor, and

controlling transmission and reception processes through thecommunicating part.

Moreover, a third aspect of the technique disclosed herein is arecording medium that records thereon a computer program to control aninformation processing apparatus including a sound pickup sensor thathas a sound pickup function; a communicating part that wirelesslytransmits audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor to theoutside; a power source part that supplies a power source to at leastone of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or the controlpart; a housing part that accommodates therein at least one of the soundpickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, or the powersource part; and an adhering part that fixes the housing part to a user,in which the computer program is described in a computer readable formatto cause a computer to execute steps of:

processing the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor, and

controlling transmission and reception processes through thecommunicating part.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the technique disclosed herein, the information processingapparatus that is used by being attached to the body of a user, acontrol method therefor, and a recording medium can be provided.

In addition, the effect described herein is absolutely exemplification,and effects of the present invention are not limited to the aboveeffect. Moreover, the present invention may further achieve anyadditional effects in addition to the above effect.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the technique disclosedherein will become more apparent from the following embodiment anddetails described later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting the state where an information processingapparatus 100 adheres to a region beneath the jaw of a user and anexploded view of the information processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying points to which the informationprocessing apparatus proposed herein can adhere.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically depicting an exemplary configurationof an input and output function of the information processing apparatus100 that is used by being adhered to the body surface of a user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying an image of actual installation of anelectric part 101 on a substrate 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a cross-sectional configuration of theinformation processing apparatus 100 in the state where the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adheres to the body surface a user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying the state where a sound pickup sensor401 picks up a voice of a user.

FIG. 7 is a table indicating suitableness or unsuitableness of each ofsensor elements and actuator elements in accordance with the adhesionpoint.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting a process procedure for the informationprocessing apparatus 100 to associate audio data picked up by the soundpickup sensor with biological information and record or transmit theaudio data to the outside.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart depicting a process procedure to cause theinformation processing apparatus 100 to operate in accordance with theadhesion state to the body of a user.

FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting an exemplary communication sequenceexecuted when an information processing apparatus 100-1 and aninformation processing apparatus 100-2 cooperate with each other.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting a process procedure in accordance withthe adhesion point for the information processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a communication sequence executed whenprocessing vibration data detected by a vibration sensor of theinformation processing apparatus 100 is executed on the otherinformation terminal side.

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying a connection procedure for theinformation processing apparatus and an information terminal held by auser.

FIG. 14 is a diagram exemplifying a process procedure for connecting theinformation processing apparatus 100 and a cloud through the informationterminal held by a user.

FIG. 15 is a diagram exemplifying a process procedure for connecting theinformation processing apparatus 100 and the cloud.

FIG. 16 is a diagram exemplifying a process procedure for connecting theinformation processing apparatus 100 and the cloud.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the technique disclosed herein will be described indetail below with reference to the drawings.

Wearable devices each used by being attached to an arm or the head arewidely known such as a wristwatch-type information terminal and aspectacles-type information terminal. For example, the wristwatch-typeinformation terminal is used by being wound in the vicinity of a wristof a user like a wristwatch and provides many functions such ascommunication using characters such as an email, activity amountmeasurement and display of the measurement result such as a pedometer,and reproduction of music, in addition to the basic functions of awristwatch. Moreover, the spectacles-type information terminal presentsinformation in a portion of the field of view of the user having thespectacles-type information terminal attached thereto and the user canthereby always receive the information such as navigation and the latestnews.

It is outwardly apparent for many of the conventional wearable deviceseach to be attached to a user. For example, the spectacles-typeinformation terminal is significantly different in the shape from anordinary spectacles for visual correction. The spectacles-typeinformation terminal may therefore provide feeling of strangeness to thepeople around and it is worried that this obstacles prevalence of anywearable device. A method can also be considered according to which thewearable device is caused to be accepted by the user him/herself and thepeople around without any feeling of strangeness by using a worked-outdesign for the apparatus main body of the wearable device. Moreover, itis not easy to exclude from the user any psychological feeling ofstrangeness against the use of any apparatus in a new form.

An information processing apparatus to be used by being directly adhereto the surface (or the skin) of the body of a user will therefore beproposed herein below. The information processing apparatus caused toadhere to the surface of the body of the user has the minimum outwardchange, therefore does not need to provide any feeling of strangeness tothe people around, and does not provide any feeling of attachment to theuser him/herself as far as possible.

The information processing apparatus is basically configured as aphysically single apparatus and is used by being adhered to any oneregion on the body of the user described above. As a modificationexample, the information processing apparatus is configured as anaggregation of two or more divided apparatuses each physically separatedfrom each other, and the divided apparatuses are caused to adhere to twoor more regions described above. In the latter case, the dividedapparatuses are mutually connected to each other using wirelesscommunication, biological communication, or the like, and are configuredsuch that the divided apparatuses operate in cooperation with each otherto function as one information processing apparatus. Hereinafter,however, description will be made being limited to that of the casewhere the information processing apparatus is configured as a physicallysingle apparatus.

The information processing apparatus includes, as its basic components,a sound pickup sensor that has a sound pickup function, a communicatingpart that wirelessly transmits audio data picked up by the sound pickupsensor to the outside, a control part that controls the sound pickupsensor and the communicating part, a power source part that supplies apower source to an electric part including at least the sound pickupsensor, the communicating part, and the control part, a housing partthat accommodates therein the electric part and the power source part,and an adhering part that fixes the housing part by causing the housingpart to the surface of the body of a user.

An IoT (Internet of Things) device has no conventional input apparatuspresent therein such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a user interface(UI) using sound information is more dominant than that using characterinformation. It can therefore be stated that the sound pickup sensor isone of the components essential to the information processing apparatus.The sound pickup sensor includes, for example, a small microphone.

In the case where a main body of the information processing apparatus isused by being adhered to a temple, the back of an ear, a region beneaththe jaw, the neck, the root of the neck, or the vicinity of the vocalcords of the user such as the throat portion, the real voice of the usercan effectively be collected including those through air conduction fromthe mouth, and flesh conduction or the bone conduction in the head. Theinformation processing apparatus therefore easily provides a soundsensing function for lifelogging. Moreover, when the region beneath thejaw or the like is set to be the adhesion point, the informationprocessing apparatus is inconspicuous and no feeling of strangeness hasto be given to the people around.

FIG. 1 depicts, as an example, the state where the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adheres to the region beneath the jaw of a userand an exploded view of the information processing apparatus 100. Theexploded view of the information processing apparatus 100 howeverdepicts, for convenience, the information processing apparatus 100upside-down against that of the state where the information processingapparatus 100 adheres to the region beneath the jaw of the user.

A main body of the information processing apparatus 100 is hiddenbeneath the jaw of the user, substantially no outward change istherefore present, and no feeling of strangeness has to be provided tothe people around.

The depicted information processing apparatus 100 includes: an electricpart 101 that includes a substrate having circuit components mountedthereon such as a sound pickup sensor, a communicating part, a controlpart, and a power source part; a housing part 102 that accommodates theelectric part 101; and an adhering part 103 that fixes the housing part102 to the body of the user by causing the housing part 102 to adhere tothe surface of the body of the user. Moreover, the depicted informationprocessing apparatus 100 has a body fluid processing part 104 stackedtherein on the adhering part 103.

It is preferred that the housing part 102 have flexibility taking intoconsideration that, when the housing part 102 is brought into contactwith the body regions of the user other than the region to which themain body of the information processing apparatus 100 adheres and thebody of each of the people around, the housing part 102 does not damagethese bodies. The housing part 102 is constituted using a metallic or anon-metallic material while the housing part 102 needs to have radiowave permeability because the housing part 102 includes thecommunicating part.

Moreover, it is preferred that the surface (or the outer appearanceface) of the housing part 102 be color-matched with the color of theskin such that the outward change in the region to which the main bodyof the information processing apparatus 100 adheres becomes minimal.Otherwise, the surface of the housing part 102 may be colored into atransparent color or painted into a fashionable color. Moreover, apattern like that of a tattoo seal may be formed on the surface of thehousing part 102 to express the personality of the user.

It is however assumed that the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 is used by being adhered to not only the region beneaththe jaw of the user but also each of various points on the surface ofthe body of the user. The outer appearance shape of the housing part 102or the main body of the information processing apparatus 100 maytherefore be changed for each of the adhesion points, or a common outerappearance shape may be employed for all the adhesion points.

Moreover, it is preferred that the housing part 102 have awater-shedding property by using a water-shedding material, applying awater-shedding processing to the surface thereof, or the like. When thesurface of the housing part 102 has no water-shedding property, bodyfluid secreted or discharged from the skin of the user (such as sweat),rainfall, and the like may infiltrate into the inside of the housingpart 102 to damage the circuit components constituting the electric part101 and deteriorate the adhesiveness of the adhering part 103 present ina further lower layer thereof.

The electric part 101 includes the sound pickup sensor, the controlpart, the power source part, and the like, and the substrate havingthese circuit components mounted thereon (described above). It ispreferred that the substrate constituting the electric part 101 haveflexibility and stretchability to follow the variation of the surface ofthe body (a free curved surface) of the user to which the main body ofthe information processing apparatus 100 adheres. The flexibility andstretchability are enhanced by, for example, using a flexible substrateand forming slits in the flexible substrate in the directions for two ormore axes, and the substrate tends to follow the free curved face. Incontrast, when the substrate has no flexibility and no stretchability,the main body of the information processing apparatus 100 tends to bepeeled off from the surface of the body of the user to which the mainbody adheres.

The adhering part 103 has a sheet-like shape and the surface thereof isa paste face having adhesion performance, and the adhering part 103adheres to the surface of the body of the user to be able to fix themain body of the information processing apparatus 100 to the body of theuser. Moreover, taking into consideration that a significant amount ofbody fluid (such as sweat) are secreted or discharged from the skin ofthe user, it is preferred that the adhering part 103 have moisturepermeability (or water permeability, or liquid permeability). Theadhering part 103 is constituted using, for example, a porous materialhaving one or more apertures.

It is preferred that the paste face of the adhering part 103 be formedby an adhesive material applicable to the skin (such as, for example,the one not stimulating the skin and avoiding generation of anyallergy). Moreover, it is preferred that, in the state where the pasteface of the adhering part 103 is unused, the paste face be protected bya release paper sheet (not depicted) such that the adhesion performancecan be maintained avoiding adhesion of any foreign particle and the liketo the paste face. Additionally, the information processing apparatus100 may be configured to transition to its use state to have the powersource thereof turned on, by the fact that the release paper sheet ispeeled off from the adhering part 103.

The body fluid processing part 104 processes the body fluid of the userinfiltrating through the aperture of the adhering part 103 to therebyblock the body fluid such that the body fluid does not reach theelectric part 101. The body fluid processing part 104 is constitutedusing a mesh material such as, for example, a high-molecule polymermoisture absorbing material. The body fluid processing part 104 guidesthe body fluid using the capillary activity and releases the body fluidinto the environment (the outside of the information processingapparatus 100). It is preferred that the body fluid processing part 104be configured as a replaceable piece.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100adhering to the region beneath the jaw of the user is exemplified whileit is assumed that the main body of the information processing apparatus100 is used by being adhered to each of various points on the surface ofthe body of the user. FIG. 2 exemplifies the regions on the body of theuser for each of which it is assumed that the information processingapparatus proposed herein adheres. It is assumed that, as depicted, theinformation processing apparatus is used as a what-is-called wearabledevice being caused to adhere to each of the regions such as a temple,the glabella, the back of an ear, a region beneath the jaw, the neck,the root of the neck, the throat portion, an upper arm, a forearm,wrist, the back of a hand, and the abdomen. In addition, though notdepicted, a similar information processing apparatus can be used as anIoT device by causing this information processing apparatus to adhere tonot the human body but each of various machines and articles.

FIG. 4 exemplifies an image of actual mounting of the electric part 101to a substrate. On the substrate 400 having the flexibility and thestretchability, a power source part 404 including a coin battery ismounted together with the circuit parts such as a sound pickup sensor401, a control part 402 acting also as a communication processing part,and a chip antenna 403.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts an exemplary configuration of an input andoutput function of the information processing apparatus 100 that is usedby being adhered to the surface of the body of the user. The depictedinformation processing apparatus 100 includes a sensor part 310, anactuator part 320, and a communicating part 330.

Utilizing the feature that the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 is in contact with the surface of the body of the user,the sensor part 310 includes a first sensor part 311 that detectsinformation relating to the user (the human body), and a second sensorpart 312 that detects information relating to the outside (the externalworld) of the user. Moreover, the actuator part 320 includes a firstactuator part 321 that outputs information to the user (the human body),and a second actuator part 322 that outputs information to the outside(the external world and the people around) of the user.

As the basic function of the information processing apparatus 100, thecontrol part (not depicted in FIG. 3) drives at least one of the firstactuator part 321 or the second actuator part 322, on the basis of theresults of the detection by at least one sensor of the sound pickupsensor, the first sensor part 311, or the second sensor part 312. Theresult of detection by the sensors (such as, for example, the biologicalinformation of the user him/herself or the environment informationrelating to the surroundings) can be notified of to the user by drivingthe first actuator part 321. Moreover, the result of detection by thesensors can be delivered to the surroundings of the user by driving thesecond actuator 322.

Moreover, as the function included in the information processingapparatus 100, the control part sends out the result of the detection bythe sensor part 310 from the communicating part 330 to the outside, ordrives the actuator part 320 on the basis of the result of the detectionby the sensor part 310.

Moreover, as yet another function included in the information processingapparatus 100, the control part controls the driving of the actuator320, controls the detection process by the sensor part 310, and the likeon the basis of the information received from the outside through thecommunicating part 330.

In addition, the control part may include a memory to store therein anindividual identification number to identify the information processingapparatus 100 (or the user), an encryption key to be used to prevent anyeavesdropping during information exchange with the outside, and thelike.

From the viewpoint that the sound pickup sensor picks up the soundproduced by the user having the information processing apparatus 100adhering thereto, the above sound pickup sensor can be included in thefirst sensor part 311. The sound pickup sensor may be understood as anessential component of the information processing apparatus 100, that issurely not included in the first sensor part 311. The sound pickupsensor picks up the sound produced by the user, using the air conductionfrom the mouth, the flesh conduction or the bone conduction in the head.It is preferred that a sound pickup hole to pick up an air-electricallydriven sound is bored in the housing part 102. Moreover, it is preferredthat a waterproof process be applied to the sound pickup hole.

Moreover, the first sensor part 311 can include various types ofbiological sensors that each can detect biological information such as abrain wave sensor, a vein sensor, a myoelectric sensor, a bodytemperature sensor, a perspiration sensor, a heart rate or pulse sensor,and a line-of-sight sensor.

For example, in the case where the information processing apparatus 100adheres is used by being adhered to a point close to the mouth or thevocal cords such as a region beneath the jaw, the neck, the root of theneck, and the throat portion, the sound pickup sensor can pick up anyminute sound information including those through the air conduction fromthe mouth, and the flesh conduction and the bone conduction in the head.Moreover, even in the environment having any noise present therein, thevoice of the user can be separated to be picked up using the fleshconduction and the bone conduction.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a cross-sectional configuration of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 in the state where the information processingapparatus 100 adheres to the surface of the body of the user. As hasbeen already described with reference to FIG. 4, on the substrate 400having the flexibility and the stretchability, the circuit pieces suchas the sound pickup sensor 401, the control part 402 acting also as thecommunication processing part, and the power source part 404 including acoin battery are mounted. Moreover, FIG. 6 exemplifies the state wherethe sound pickup sensor 401 picks up the voice of the user. It ishowever assumed in FIG. 6 that the information processing apparatus 100adheres to the throat portion of the user. When the voice produced bythe user conducts through the flesh and the skin to reach the main bodyof the information processing apparatus 100, the voice furtherpropagates in the air as indicated by arrows in FIG. 6 to vibrate theair in the front face space of the sound pickup sensor 401. Thediaphragm (not depicted) in the sound pickup sensor is vibrated by theair vibration and the voice of the user can thereby be effectivelypicked up.

The information processing apparatus 100 may record the acoustic datapicked up by the sound pickup sensor as an audio log, and may furthertransmit the audio log to an external apparatus through thecommunicating part 330. Moreover, in the case where the informationprocessing apparatus 100 includes an biological sensor as the firstsensor 311, the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor and thebiological information detected by the biological sensor may besynchronized with each other in the temporal direction, to be recorded,to be transmitted to an external apparatus, or the like.

The data amount however becomes huge when the audio log is alwaysrecorded, and the control part may therefore execute filtering for theaudio logs (or intermittent recording of the audio data) on the basis ofthe biological information acquired from the biological sensor (abovedescribed). During the reproduction, the audio log may intermittently bereproduced by filtering on the basis of the biological informationsynchronized with the audio log in the temporal direction. For example,effective and efficient viewing and listening of the past experience ofthe user are enabled by filtering the audio log using the preciselydetected heart rate. Moreover, on the basis of brain wave data and thelike, the recording and external outputting of the audio log may beexecuted in a time period limited to that in which the user is assumedto be in the awake state or in which the user indicates an interest.

Additionally, the information processing apparatus 100 can also be usedas a sound collector or a hearing aid by executing sound picking up toamplification to reproduction by the cooperative operation by the soundpickup sensor included in the first sensor part 311 and the speaker(described later) included in the first actuator part 321.

Moreover, in the case where the information processing apparatus 100 isused by being adhered to the head such as a temple or the glabella, thebrain wave can highly precisely be detected using the brain wave sensor.The control part analyzes the result of the detection by the brain wavesensor to recognize the intention and the emotion of the user, and abrain interface can thereby be realized. Moreover, when the control partsenses any drowsiness of the user on the basis of the result of thedetection by the brain wave sensor, the control part can also execute,for example, an operation of repulsing the drowsiness using electricstunning by driving the first actuator part 321.

Moreover, a vibration sensor can be included in the first sensor part311. The vibration sensor includes, for example, an acceleration sensor,a gyro sensor, or a geomagnetism sensor, or a combination of two or moresensor elements of these. On the basis of the result of the detection bythe vibration sensor, the control part can detect the posture and thebody motion (such as an impact, a vibration, an inclination, tumbling,falling, moving, and the like) of the user having the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adhering thereto on its body. Moreover, in thecase such as that where the information processing apparatus 100 is usedby being adhered to the back of a hand or a finger of the user, thecontrol part can analyze the result of the detection by the vibrationsensor and can thereby detect a gesture performed by the user.

Furthermore, the control part can extract characteristic data fromvibration data detected by the vibration sensor and can recognize theaction of the user on the basis of the temporal sequence of thecharacteristic data accumulated in a predetermined amount (see, e.g.,PTL 3). Moreover, the control part may sequentially learn the temporalsequence information of the characteristic data. The vibration dataacquired from the vibration sensor has a different characteristic foreach of the points to which the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adheres. The control part therefore can also furtherestimate the point to which the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adheres on the basis of the vibration data acquired fromthe vibration sensor (or the temporal sequence of the characteristicdata extracted from the vibration data).

Moreover, an adhesion sensor detecting whether or not the adhesion stateis established where the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adheres to the body of the user can also be included inthe first sensor part 311. As to the adhesion sensor, the adhesionsensor can be constituted using, for example, a capacitance sensor thatdetects any variation of the capacitance associated with the approach ofthe human body, an infrared reflection sensor that detects a reflectedlight beam of an infrared light beam applied to the surface (the skin)of the human body, and the like. In response to the adhesion state, thecontrol part may control the startup (the recovery from the standbystate) of the information processing apparatus 100 and the startup ofthe predetermined processes such as the authentication.

Suitableness or unsuitableness is however present for the detection ofthe biological information depending on the point to which the main bodyof the information processing apparatus 100 adheres and, moreover,necessity and unnecessity differ in the biological information dependingon the use of the information processing apparatus 100 itself. Anyproperly necessary biological sensor only has to be incorporated in thefirst sensor part 311 in accordance with the necessity or unnecessity ofthe adhesion point and the biological information.

Examples of the second sensor part 312 include a sound pickup sensor(such as a microphone) that picks up (not the real voice of the userbut) a sound or a noise in the outer world, an image sensor that imagesthe scenery of the surroundings, and an environment sensor that detectsthe external environment information such as the temperature, thehumidity, the luminance, and the atmospheric pressure. Moreover, fromthe view point that the chip antenna 403 (described above) detects theradio wave (a wireless signal), the chip antenna 403 can also beincluded in the second sensor part 312 in the broad sense.

Moreover, a position information sensor such as a GPS (GlobalPositioning System) sensor can be included in the second sensor part312. The information processing apparatus 100 can however include aposition detection function using a means other than the positioninformation sensor. For example, in the case where an image sensor isincluded as the second sensor part 312, self-location estimation can berealized utilizing the SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)technique. Moreover, the current location can be calculated on the basisof the balance of the radio wave intensities from the surrounding pluralaccess points that are received by the chip antenna 403, using thePlaceEngine technique.

In the case where the position information sensor is included as thesecond sensor part 312 or the information processing apparatus 100 has aposition detection function, the control part can recognize the actionof the user on the basis of the temporal sequence of the positioninformation, that is, path information of the user.

Suitableness or unsuitableness for the detection of the outerenvironment information is present depending on the point to which themain body of the information processing apparatus 100 adheres. Forexample, in the case where the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adheres to the glabella of the user as depicted in FIG. 1,this is suitable for imaging the scenery of the surroundings while, inthe case where the main body adheres to the region beneath the jaw, thisis unsuitable for imaging the scenery of the surroundings. The secondsensor part 312 therefore only has to incorporate therein a properlynecessary environment sensor in accordance with the necessity orunnecessity of the adhesion point and the biological information.

The first actuator part 321 basically outputs directly to the body ofthe user. Examples of the first actuator part 321 include, for example,a small speaker, a flesh conduction speaker that outputs a sound usingthe flesh conduction, a haptic device capable of haptic-outputting, avibration actuator that applies stimulation using a vibration, anactuator that provides weak electric stunning (or a device that outputsa micro current). Suitableness or unsuitableness of the outputting ishowever present depending on the point to which the main body of theinformation processing apparatus 100 adheres and, moreover, necessityand unnecessity of the outputting differ depending on the use of theinformation processing apparatus 100 itself. Any properly necessaryactuator element only has to be incorporated in the first sensor part321 in accordance with the necessity or unnecessity of the adhesionpoint and the information outputting.

The second actuator part 322 basically outputs information to the userhaving the information processing apparatus 100 adhering thereto and thepeople around the user. Examples of the information output from thesecond actuator part 322 include externally provided information that isreceived through the communicating part 330. Moreover, the results ofdetection by the first sensor part 311 and the second sensor part 312and the result of analysis or recognition of the detected data thereofby the control part can also be output from the second actuator part322.

Examples of the second actuator part 322 include a displaying part thatoutputs a light beam or an image, a speaker that outputs a sound, andthe like. The displaying part can be constituted using, for example, ahighly flexible organic EL (electro luminescence) display. Thedisplaying part is not accommodated in the housing 102 and is disposedon the surface of the housing 102. Moreover, in the case where thespeaker is included as the second actuator part 322, a sound output holeand an air discharge hole may be formed in the surface of the housing102.

Suitableness or unsuitableness of the outputting is however presentdepending on the point to which the main body of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adheres and, moreover, necessity andunnecessity of outputting differ depending on the use of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 itself. Any properly necessary actuator elementonly has to be incorporated in the second actuator part 322 inaccordance with the necessity or unnecessity of the adhesion point andthe information outputting.

The communicating part 330 executes information communication with theoutside. For example, the communicating part 330 outputs the result ofthe detection by the sensor part 310 processed by the control part tothe outside. Moreover, the communicating part 330 inputs instructionsfor the control part and the actuator part 320, from the outside.

The communicating part 330 executes communication with an apparatus(such as a cloud) on the Internet through wireless communication suchas, for example, Wi-Fi. Otherwise, the communicating part 330 executescommunication with another information terminal held by the user such asa smartphone using Bluetooth (a registered trademark) or anothershort-distance communication function. When the communicating part 330executes information communication with an external apparatuswirelessly, it is preferred that secret communication be executed usingan encryption key (described above) to prevent any eavesdropping.

Moreover, the communicating part 330 may execute communication with aninformation terminal at a very short distance and the authenticationprocess using a proximity wireless communication technique like NFC(near field communication). Moreover, the communicating part 300 mayhave a human body communication function and may execute informationcommunication with another information processing apparatus adhering toanother region of the body of the same user and an information terminalheld by the same user through the human body communication.

The sensor elements applicable to the first sensor part 311 and thesecond sensor part 312, and the actuator elements applicable to thefirst actuator part 321 and the second actuator part 322 depend also onthe point to which the main body of the information processing apparatus100 adheres. Suitableness and unsuitableness of the sensor elements andthe actuator elements in accordance with the adhesion point are listedin FIG. 7.

Such methods can be considered as the configuration method for theinformation processing apparatus 100 for only the minimal sensorelements and the actuator elements to be included therein limiting thepoint for the adhesion, and a high-specification configuration methodfor the information processing apparatus 100 for as many types of sensorelement and actuator element as possible to be included therein assumingthat the information processing apparatus 100 is applied to each of manyadhesion points.

According to the former method, one information processing apparatus 100can relatively inexpensively be manufactured and the informationprocessing apparatus 100 can therefore be also set to be adisposable-type information processing apparatus 100.

Moreover, according to the latter configuration method, the sensorelements and the actuator elements that do not need to operate arepresent depending on the point for the actual adhesion. Turning on andoff of each of the sensor elements and the actuator elements maytherefore be set so as to be manually switchable therebetween, or thecontrol part may estimate the adhesion point on the basis of thevibration data acquired from the vibration sensor (the body motion ofthe user) and the sensor data of the biological sensor and the like toautomatically execute the switching control of the turning on and offtherebetween. Moreover, control that does not control the completeswitching of turning on and off of each of the sensor elements and theactuator elements but that switches the sensor sensitivity stepwise orthat switches the output level of the actuator stepwise in accordancewith the intended use estimated from the point for the adhesion, or thelike may be executed.

In addition, a patch material for the skin that incorporates therein atemperature sensor and that is used by being adhered to the skin of aspecimen material such as a human body has already been proposed (see,e.g., PTL 2). The patch material for the skin also incorporates thereinan electric part such as a microprocessor and a transmitter, and abutton-type battery in addition to the temperature sensor but does notinclude any sound pickup sensor. In other words, from the viewpoint thatthe patch material for the skin cannot use any sound information for UIand cannot handle any audio log, this patch material essentially differsfrom the information processing apparatus disclosed herein.

Example 1

A first Example assumes that the information processing apparatus 100(see FIG. 1) is caused to adhere to the region beneath the jaw (or thethroat portion) of the user.

Because the information processing apparatus 100 is used by beingadhered to a point close to the mouth or the vocal cords, the soundpickup sensor can pick up minute sound information as the life loginformation. Moreover, even in an environment with a noise, the soundpickup sensor can separate the user's voice from the noise using theflesh conduction and the bone conduction and can thereby efficientlypick up the user's voice (see, FIG. 6). Moreover, because theinformation processing apparatus 100 adheres to the region beneath thejaw and is inconspicuous, the sound pickup sensor can record the audiolog without being noticed by the user him/herself and the dialoguecounterpart of the user.

Example 2

A second Example also assumes that the information processing apparatus100 (see FIG. 1) is caused to adhere to the region beneath the jaw orthe throat portion of the user. Moreover, it is assumed that theinformation processing apparatus 100 includes at least one biologicalsensor in addition to the sound pickup sensor, as the first sensor 311.

The biological sensor includes at least one of a brain wave sensor, avein sensor, a myoelectric sensor, a body temperature sensor, aperspiration sensor, a heart rate or pulse sensor, a vibration sensor,or the like, or a combination of two or more of these sensors. Thebiological sensor detects the biological information of the user havingthe main body of the information processing apparatus 100 adhering tothe surface of the body thereof.

Similar to the first Example, in this Example, because the informationprocessing apparatus 100 also adheres to the region beneath the jaw andis inconspicuous, the information processing apparatus 100 record theaudio log without being noticed by the user him/herself and the dialoguecounterpart of the user. Moreover, the recorded or the live audio datamay also be transmitted to an external apparatus through thecommunicating part 330.

Moreover, in this Example, because the information processing apparatus100 includes the biological sensor as the first sensor 311, theinformation processing apparatus 100 may synchronize the audio datapicked up by the sound pickup sensor and the biological informationdetected by the biological sensor with each other in the temporaldirection to record these, or may transmit the audio data to an externalapparatus establishing its synchronization with the biologicalinformation in the temporal direction. In this case, the audio data andthe biological information can collectively be managed as a life log ofthe user.

When the audio log is always recorded, a problem however arises that thedata amount becomes huge. The control part therefore executes filteringfor the audio log on the basis of the biological information acquiredfrom the biological sensor (described above).

For example, when the information processing apparatus 100 reproducesthe audio data, the information processing apparatus 100 may execute thefiltering on the basis of the biological information whosesynchronization with the audio log in the temporal direction isestablished, to thereby intermittently reproduce the audio log. Forexample, the degree of tension of the user and the like can be estimatedusing the heart rate. The past experience of the user can therefore beefficiently and effectively viewed and listened to by filtering theaudio log using the precisely detected heart rate.

Moreover, in the case where the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adheres to the region with which the brain wave can bedetected with a low noise such as not the region beneath the jaw but thehead, the information processing apparatus 100 may execute the recordingand external outputting of the audio log limiting the time period tothat in which it is estimated that the user is in the awake state on thebasis of the brain wave data.

In addition, the method of establishing the synchronization of the audiolog and the biological information with each other in the temporaldirection is optional. For example, the audio data and the biologicalinformation synchronized with each other may be consolidated with eachother, or a time stamp may be attached to each of the audio data and thebiological information each handled separately from each other.

FIG. 8 depicts, in the form of a flowchart, a process procedure for theinformation processing apparatus 100 to record therein by correlatingthe audio data with the biological information or transmit the audiodata picked up by the sound pickup sensor to the outside. It is assumedthat the depicted process procedure is executed led by, for example, thecontrol part in the information processing apparatus 100.

In the case where an input of a sound is present for the sound pickupsensor (Yes of step S801), the control part next further checks whetheror not any biological information is detected by the biologicalinformation (step S802).

Concerning the above, in the case where no biological information isdetected by the biological sensor (No of step S802), the control partexecutes reproduction and outputting from the second actuator part 322,transmission to the outside, or recording for the audio data picked upby the sound pickup sensor in accordance with the transmission conditionor the recording condition for those except the biological information(step S808).

Moreover, in the case where any biological information is detected bythe biological sensor (Yes of step S802), the control part checkswhether or not the audio data and the biological information aresynchronized with each other in the temporal direction (step S803). Inthe case where the audio data and the biological information aresynchronized with each other in the temporal direction (Yes of stepS803), the control part synchronizes the biological information with theaudio data in the temporal direction (step S804).

The control part next checks whether or not the picked up audio data isfiltered using the biological information (step S805).

In the case where it is determined that the audio data needs to befiltered using the biological information (Yes of step S805), thecontrol part filters the picked up audio data on the basis of thebiological information (step S806).

The control part next reproduces and outputs the picked up audio data(for which the case is present where the audio data is synchronized withthe biological information in the temporal direction or where the audiodata is filtered on the basis of the biological information) using thesecond actuator part 322, and transmits the audio data through thecommunicating part 330 or checks whether or not the audio data isrecorded as an audio log (step S807).

At step S807, the control part determines necessity or unnecessity ofthe reproduction and outputting, the external outputting, and therecording of the audio data, on the basis of a sound instruction fromthe user, the recognition result for the biological information, anexternal instruction received through the communicating part 330, andthe like.

In the case where the determination result acquired at step S807 isaffirmative, the control part thereafter executes the reproduction andoutputting from the second actuator part 322, the transmission to theoutside, or the recording of the audio data picked up by the soundpickup sensor (step S808).

Example 3

In a third Example, the point to which the main body of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adheres is not especially limited while it isassumed that the information processing apparatus 100 includes theadhesion sensor that detects whether or not the adhesion state isestablished where the main body of the information processing apparatus100 adheres to the body of the user.

As to the adhesion sensor, the adhesion sensor can be constitute using,for example, a capacitance sensor that detects any variation of thecapacitance associated with the approach of the human body, an infraredreflection sensor that detects any reflected light beam of an infraredlight beam applied to the surface (the skin) of the human body, and thelike. It is preferred that the adhesion sensor have a configurationadapted to the point to which the main body of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 is caused to adhere. In addition, the adhesionstate can be estimated using the determination as to whether or not thestate where the biological signal (such as the heart beats) can bedetected by the biological sensor is established. Moreover, relatingalso to a sixth Example described later, the point for the adhesion canalso be simultaneously estimated together with the adhesion state of themain body of the information processing apparatus 100 for the body ofthe user, on the basis of the vibration data acquired from the vibrationsensor.

The control part controls the operation of the information processingapparatus 100 in accordance with the adhesion state. The state where themain body of the information processing apparatus 100 does not adhere tothe surface of the body of the user can basically be regarded as thestate where the information processing apparatus 100 is not used. Thecontrol part may therefore cause the circuits except some functionsincluding the adhesion sensor to transition into a standby state or astoppage state to facilitate reduction of the power consumption when thenon-adhesion state is detected by the adhesion sensor.

On the other hand, when the adhesion state for the body of the user isdetected by the adhesion sensor, the control part starts up the circuitsthat are each in the standby state or the stoppage state. Moreover, thecontrol part may start up the predetermined processes such as theauthentication process in response to the fact that the adhesion statefor the body of the user is detected by the adhesion sensor.

It is assumed that the “authentication” as used herein includes eitherone process or both processes of the authentication for the userhim/herself having the main body of the information processing apparatus100 adhering thereto, and authentication for another device. Moreover,the control part may execute pairing with another device in theauthentication process. For the former user authentication, for example,the biological information detected by the biological sensor may beused. Moreover, to realize the authentication process without any fraud,the electric part 101 may include circuit pieces each having tamperresistance such as an IC chip.

FIG. 9 depicts, in the form of a flowchart, a process procedure to causethe information processing apparatus 100 to operate in accordance withthe adhesion state for the body of the user. It is assumed that thedepicted process procedure is executed led by, for example, the controlpart in the information processing apparatus 100. In addition,hereinafter, for convenience, the description will be made assuming thatthe adhesion sensor outputs a detection signal when the adhesion statevaries (when the state transitions from the adhesion state to thenon-adhesion state or when the state transitions from the non-adhesionstate to the adhesion state).

The control part first checks whether or not any input from the adhesionsensor is present (step S901).

When an input from the adhesion sensor is present (Yes of step S901),the control part further checks whether or not the informationprocessing apparatus 100 transitions into the adhesion state (stepS902).

Moreover, when no input from the adhesion sensor is present (No of stepS901), the control part tries determining the adhesion state on thebasis of the results of the detection of the sensors other than theadhesion sensor (such as, for example, the biological sensor and thevibration sensor) (step S904).

When it turns out next that the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 is in the where the main body adheres to the body of theuser (Yes of step S902) or when it is estimated that the main body is inthe adhesion state (Yes of step S905), the control part starts up thecircuits each in the standby state or the stoppage state or starts upthe authentication process (step S903), and causes this process to cometo an end.

On the other hand, when it turns out that the main body of theinformation processing apparatus 100 is not in the state where the mainbody does not adhere to the body of the user (No of step S902) or whenit is estimated that the main body is not in the adhesion state (No ofstep S905), the control part does not execute the starting up of thecircuits and the starting up of the authentication process, and causesthis process to come to an end.

Example 4

A fourth Example assumes that the main body of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 is caused to adhere to the region close to anear such as the back of the ear and the information processing apparatus100 includes a speaker as the second actuator. The informationprocessing apparatus 100 can therefore provide a sound agent function tothe user using the speaker.

In the case where the information processing apparatus 100 includes thevibration sensor as the second sensor part 312, the control part canrecognize the action of the user on the basis of the temporal sequenceof the detected vibration data. Moreover, in the case where theinformation processing apparatus 100 includes the position informationsensor as the second sensor part 312 or has the position detectionfunction, the control part can recognize the action of the user on thebasis of the path information of the user. The control part can nextprovide the sound agent that matches with the situation having the userpresent therein on the basis of the recognition result for the action.

The control part controls the driving of the sound agent on the basis ofthe recognition result for the sound of the user picked up by the soundpickup sensor, the position information relating to the user that variesmoment by moment, and the recognition result for the action. Otherwise,the control part may acquire information relating to a POI (point ofinterest) estimated on the basis of the current position of the userfrom an external apparatus (such as a cloud) through the communicatingpart 330 to present this information to the user through the soundagent.

Moreover, the control part may control the driving of the sound agent onthe basis of data received from an external apparatus (an informationterminal such as a smartphone, a cloud, or the like) through thecommunicating part 330. When the control part acquires the informationfor the sound agent, the control part may transmit information such asthe position information relating to the user and the action recognitionresult to the external apparatus through the communicating part 330.

Moreover, the main body of the information processing apparatus 100 maybe caused to adhere to a region that tends to be seen by the user suchas the back of a hand, and the information processing apparatus 100 mayinclude a displaying part as the second actuator. The displaying part isnot accommodated in the housing 102 but is disposed on the surface ofthe housing 102, and the user can thereby view and listen to the displayscreen. The main body of the information processing apparatus 100 can becaused to adhere following the curved face of the back of a hand or thelike with excellent feeling of fitting by constituting the displayingpart using a highly flexible organic EL display.

In the case where the information processing apparatus 100 includes thevibration sensor as the second sensor part 312, the control part canrecognize the action of the user on the basis of the temporal sequenceof the detected vibration data. Moreover, in the case where theinformation processing apparatus 100 includes the position informationsensor as the second sensor part 312 or has the position detectionfunction, the information processing apparatus 100 can recognize theaction of the user on the basis of the path information for the user.The control part can next present visual guide information that matcheswith the situation having the user present therein, on the displayingpart on the basis of the recognition result for the sound of the userpicked up by the sound pickup sensor or the recognition result for theaction of the user.

Moreover, the control part may transmit information relating to therecognition result for the sound of the user and the recognition resultfor the action of the user to an external apparatus through thecommunicating part 330 to display on the displaying part the relatedinformation acquired from the external apparatus. The informationprocessing apparatus 100 surely may also receive the informationirrelevant to the sound command and the action of the user, from theexternal apparatus to display this information on the displaying part.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100 according to thefourth Example may include both of the speaker and the displaying partto reproduce and output a video image and sound information receivedfrom an external apparatus through the communicating part 330.

Example 5

A fifth Example assumes that two of an information processing apparatus100-1 and an information processing apparatus 100-2 that are caused toconcurrently adhere to the body of the same user operate in cooperationwith each other. The one information processing apparatus 100-1 includesan imaging function such as a camera (or an image sensor) or the like,and the other information processing apparatus 100-2 includes adisplaying part or a display function, and displays and outputs thevideo image imaged by the information processing apparatus 100-1 in, forexample, real time.

The point to which the information processing apparatus 100-1 includingthe imaging function is caused to adhere is optional. The otherinformation processing apparatus 100-2 however displays the point thatis in the blind angle for the user when the information processingapparatus 100-1 is caused to adhere to a point with which the line ofsight of the camera is set to be in the direction of the blind angle ofthe user, and an effect tends to be achieved that the blind angle of theuser can be compensated. It is preferred that the information processingapparatus 100-1 be caused to adhere to, for example, the vicinity of atemple of the user such that the camera is turned sideways.

Moreover, examples of the point to which the information processingapparatus 100-2 including the display function is caused to adhereinclude a point with which the user him/herself can observe thedisplayed image, such as, for example, the back of a hand. When the userdesires to visually observe a displayed image during an operation by theuser using the right hand or the dominant arm of the user, it ispreferred that the information processing apparatus 100-2 be caused toadhere to the back of the left hand or the arm other than the dominantarm of the user.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100-1 may also include amicrophone that picks up the surrounding sounds, together with thecamera or the imaging function. In this case, the information processingapparatus 100-2 may output the video image imaged by the informationprocessing apparatus 100-1 and the audio together with each other.

The information processing apparatus 100-1 and the informationprocessing apparatus 100-2 execute direct communication with each otherusing the biological communication or the short-distance wirelesscommunication, and thereby operate in cooperation with each other.Otherwise, the information processing apparatus 100-1 and theinformation processing apparatus 100-2 can also communicate with eachother through another information terminal held by the user such as asmartphone to realize the operation in cooperation.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary communication sequence executed when thetwo of the information processing apparatus 100-1 and the informationprocessing apparatus 100-2 cooperate with each other. It is also assumedthat the cooperation is established through another information terminalwhile, in FIG. 10, for simplification of the drawing, the informationprocessing apparatus 100-1 and the information processing apparatus100-2 communicate directly with each other or the other informationterminal is not depicted.

For example, when the state is established where the informationprocessing apparatus 100-1 and the information processing apparatus100-2 concurrently adheres to the body of the same user, theauthentication process and the process for pairing are started upbetween the information processing apparatus 100-1 and the informationprocessing apparatus 100-2 automatically or by any one of manualoperations by the user (including an instruction using a sound), and thestate is established where the information processing apparatus 100-1and the information processing apparatus 100-2 cooperate with eachother, through the above processes.

In the state of the cooperation, the image and the audio data may alwaysbe continuously transmitted from the information processing apparatus100-1 to the information processing apparatus 100-2, and the informationprocessing apparatus 100-2 may also always continuously reproduce andoutput the received image and audio data. It is however worried that theprocessing load on the apparatus is heavy to consume the battery whenthe image and the audio data are always continuously transmitted. Amongall, the processing load of the image data is heavy. It is also worriedthat the communication band is continuously used. Filtering maytherefore be executed for the image and the audio data using thebiological information of the user.

The information processing apparatus 100-2 can also be enabled toexecute the filtering for the received data while it is efficient forthe overall system to execute the filtering before the transmission fromthe information processing apparatus 100-1. Moreover, the biologicalinformation of the user may also be detected using the biological sensorincluded in either the information processing apparatus 100-1 or theinformation processing apparatus 100-2. Otherwise, the filtering canalso be executed using the biological information detected by anotherinformation processing apparatus concurrently adhering to the same user.

In addition, in the above, for simplification of the description, theExample has been taken where the two information processing apparatuses100-1 and 100-2 cooperate with each other while an Example is alsosurely assumed where three or more information processing apparatusescooperate with each other that concurrently adhere to the same user.

Example 6

The high-specification configuration method for the informationprocessing apparatus 100 for as many types of sensor element andactuator element as possible to be included therein is consideredassuming that the information processing apparatus 100 is applied toeach of many adhesion points (described above). In the case where such aconfiguration method is employed, the sensor elements and the actuatorelements that are essentially or preferably operated and, in contrast,the sensor elements and the actuator elements that do not need to beoperated are present in accordance with the point for the actualadhesion.

When the sensor elements and the actuator elements to be preferablyoperated are not caused to operate, the user cannot enjoy the fullbenefit provided thereto by the adhesion of the information processingapparatus 100 to the body of the user. Moreover, when the sensorelements and the actuator elements that do not need to be operated arecontinuously operated, the battery is consumed.

The high-specification information processing apparatus 100 is adaptedto automatically recognize or manually (including an instruction by thesound from the user) recognize the point for the adhesion on the body ofthe user and thereby controls the switching of the turning on or off ofeach of these sensor elements and the actuator elements. Moreover, thecomplete switching of the turning on or off of each of the sensorelements and the actuator elements is not controlled but control may beexecuted according to which the sensitivity of each of the sensors isswitched stepwise and the output level of each of the actuator isswitched stepwise in accordance with the purpose of use estimated fromthe point for the adhesion, or the like.

For example, a specific (or a predetermined number or more of biologicalsensors are started up as the start-up process for the informationprocessing apparatus 100, and the control part estimates the adhesionpoint on the basis of the detected biological information (or acombination of plural pieces of detected biological information). Thecontrol part next turns on the necessary sensor elements and actuatorelements, and turns off the unnecessary sensor elements and actuatorelements on the basis of the estimated adhesion point.

Otherwise, the control part estimates the adhesion point for the mainbody of the information processing apparatus 100 on the basis of thevibration data detected by the vibration sensor, and turns on thenecessary sensor elements and actuator elements and turns off theunnecessary sensor elements and actuator elements on the basis of theestimated adhesion point.

For each of the points to which the main body of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 adheres, the characteristic of the vibrationdata differs and an action recognition algorism based on the vibrationdata also naturally differs. The control part therefore may execute theaction recognition for the user on the basis of the vibration data byapplying the recognition algorism in accordance with the adhesion pointestimated by the control part and may further execute learning of theaction recognition on the basis of the vibration data.

Moreover, the control part may execute driving control in accordancewith the action recognition result using the actuator elements startedup in accordance with the adhesion point, and may feed back the actionrecognition result to the user or may execute services such as provisionof information based on the action recognition result.

FIG. 11 depicts, in the form of a flowchart, a process procedure inaccordance with the adhesion point for the information processingapparatus 100. It is assumed that the depicted process procedure isexecuted led by, for example, the control part of the informationprocessing apparatus 100.

The control part first executes a recognition process for the adhesionpoint for the main body of the information processing apparatus 100using the automatic recognition or the manual recognition (step S1101).

At step S1101, the control part starts up a specific (or a predeterminednumber or more of biological sensors and the control part estimates theadhesion point for the main body of the information processing apparatus100 on the basis of the detected biological information (or acombination of plural pieces of detected biological information).Otherwise, the control part estimates the adhesion point for the mainbody of the information processing apparatus 100 on the basis of themanual recognition (including an instruction by a sound from the user).Otherwise, the control part estimates the adhesion point for the mainbody of the information processing apparatus 100 on the basis of thevibration data detected by the vibration sensor.

Concerning the above, the control part checks whether or not theadhesion point for the main body of the information processing apparatus100 can be estimated (step S1102). In the case where the adhesion pointcannot be estimated (No of step S1102), the control part further checkswhether or not the estimation of the adhesion point is impossible (stepS1106).

When the estimation of the adhesion point is not impossible (No of stepS1106), the procedure returns to step S1101 to continue the estimationprocess for the adhesion point. Moreover, in the case where theestimation of the adhesion point is impossible (Yes of step S1106), thecontrol part causes this process to come to an end (ABORT). For example,in the case where the adhesion point cannot be estimated within apredetermined time period or a predetermined number of trials, it isdetermined that the estimation is impossible. Otherwise, in the casewhere the estimation of the adhesion point is impossible, a combinationof the sensor elements and the actuator elements determined in advancemay also be turned on not on the basis of the estimation result.

On the other hand, in the case where the adhesion point for the mainbody of the information processing apparatus 100 can be estimated (Yesof step S1102), the control part turns on the necessary sensor elementsand actuator elements and turns off the unnecessary sensor elements andactuator elements on the basis of the estimated adhesion point (stepS1103).

Thereafter, the control part applies the recognition algorism inaccordance with the adhesion point estimated at step S1101 to executethe action recognition for the user on the basis of the vibration data(step S1104).

The control part thereafter executes the driving control in accordancewith the action recognition result using the actuator elements startedup in accordance with the adhesion point at step S1103, and feeds backthe action recognition result to the user or executes the services suchas the provision of the information based on the action recognitionresult (step S1105).

In addition, because the calculation load of each of the actionrecognition process and the learning process is large, these processesmay be executed not by the information processing apparatus 100configured to be relatively inexpensive and small but by anotherinformation terminal held by the user such as a smartphone.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary communication sequence executed whenprocessing for vibration data detected by the vibration sensor of theinformation processing apparatus 100 is executed by the otherinformation terminal. It is however assumed that the informationprocessing apparatus 100 is mutually connected using Wi-Fi or anothershort-distance wireless communication.

Prior to the series of processes, the information processing apparatus100 and the information terminal execute the authentication process.

When the authentication process is successfully executed, theinformation processing apparatus 100 continuously transmits thevibration data detected by the vibration sensor of the informationprocessing apparatus 100, to the information terminal for apredetermined time period.

When the information terminal extracts the characteristic data from thevibration data received from the information processing apparatus 100and estimates the point to which the information processing apparatus100 adheres on the basis of the temporal sequence information of thecharacteristic data, the information terminal replies the informationprocessing apparatus 100 about the estimation result.

The information processing apparatus 100 turns on the necessary sensorelements and actuator elements and turns off the unnecessary sensorelements and actuator elements in accordance with the adhesion pointestimated by the information terminal.

The information processing apparatus 100 thereafter also continuouslytransmits the vibration data detected by the vibration sensor of theinformation processing apparatus 100 to the information terminal.

The information terminal executes the action recognition for the user onthe basis of the vibration data in accordance with the adhesion pointfor the information processing apparatus 100 estimated previously by theinformation terminal, and further executes the learning for the actionrecognition on the basis of the vibration data. The information terminalthereafter stores in the terminal the result of the action recognitionand the learning result as information relating to the action history ofthe user. Moreover, the information terminal feeds back the result ofthe action recognition and the learning result to the informationprocessing apparatus 100.

The information processing apparatus 100 executes the driving controlfor the actuator elements in accordance with the action recognitionresult fed back from the information terminal, and feeds back the actionrecognition result to the user or executes the services such as theinformation provision on the basis of the action recognition result.

Example 7

The information processing apparatus 100 is used as a stand-alone lifelog recording apparatus being caused to adhere to the surface of thebody of the user and, on the other hand, can also be used by beingconnected to another information terminal such as a smartphone held bythe user, a cloud (such as a server installed on the Internet), and thelike. The information processing apparatus 100 is connected to the otherinformation terminal or the cloud and thereby enables realization of theprocesses that are difficult for a stand-alone apparatus, using thesecalculation resources, and various types of services are enabled to beprovided to the user.

A connection procedure for the information processing apparatus 100 andan external apparatus therebetween will be described below as a seventhExample.

FIG. 13 exemplifies a process procedure for connecting the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and an information terminal held by the user(such as a smartphone) with each other. In FIG. 13, the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and the information terminal are howeverconnected to each other using a proximity wireless communicationtechnique such as NFC.

When the power source is turned on in response to the fact that therelease paper sheet (described above) is peeled off from the paste faceof the adhering part 103 (S1301), the information processing apparatus100 enters an standby state for the adhesion detection that detects thatthe information processing apparatus 100 adheres to the surface of thebody of the user using the adhering part 103 (S1302).

When the information processing apparatus 100 thereafter detects thatthe adhering part 103 adheres to the surface of the body of the user(Yes of step S1303), the information processing apparatus 100 nextstands by for a connection request by the proximity wirelesscommunication from the information terminal held by the same user suchas a smartphone (step S1304).

The user causes the main body of the information terminal to be proximalto the main body of the information processing apparatus 100 by puttingthe main body in front of the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adhering to the skin of the user (S1311). The informationterminal thereafter issues a connection request to the informationprocessing apparatus 100 using the proximity wireless communication(S1312).

When the information processing apparatus 100 receives the connectionrequest from the information terminal (Yes of S1304), the informationprocessing apparatus 100 issues terminal information including theinformation relating to the information processing apparatus 100 itselfto the information terminal (S1305). The configuration of the terminalinformation is optional. The terminal information may include, forexample, apparatus identification information identifying theinformation processing apparatus 100, user-specific informationidentifying the user having the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adhering thereto, and the like.

When the information terminal can receive the terminal information fromthe information processing apparatus 100 that is the connection requestdestination (Yes of S1313), the information terminal transmits aconnection completion notice to the information processing apparatus 100(step S1314) and thereby completes the connection with the informationprocessing apparatus 100. In addition, the information terminal maytransmit the connection completion notice after executing verificationor the authentication process for the terminal information received fromthe information processing apparatus 100.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100 receives theconnection completion notice from the information terminal that is theconnection request source (Yes of S1306) and thereby completes theconnection with the information terminal.

FIG. 14 exemplifies a process procedure for the information processingapparatus 100 and a cloud to be connected to each other through theinformation terminal held by the user (such as a smartphone). In FIG.14, it is however assumed that the information processing apparatus 100and the information terminal are connected to each other using aproximity wireless communication technique such as NFC, and theinformation terminal and the cloud are connected to each other through awide area network such as the Internet.

When the power source is turned on in response to the fact that therelease paper sheet (described above) is peeled off from the paste faceof the adhering part 103 (S1401), the information processing apparatus100 enters the standby state for the adhesion detection that detectsthat the information processing apparatus 100 adheres to the surface ofthe body of the user using the adhering part 103 (S1402).

When the information processing apparatus 100 thereafter detects thatthe adhering part 103 adheres to the surface of the body of the user(Yes of step S1403), the information processing apparatus 100 nextstands by for a connection request by the proximity wirelesscommunication from the information terminal held by the same user (stepS1404).

The user causes the main body of the information terminal to be proximalto the main body of the information processing apparatus 100 by puttingthe main body in front of the main body of the information processingapparatus 100 adhering to the skin of the user (S1411). The informationterminal thereafter issues the connection request to the informationprocessing apparatus 100 using the proximity wireless communication(S1412).

When the information processing apparatus 100 receives the connectionrequest from the information terminal (Yes of S1404), the informationprocessing apparatus 100 issues terminal information including theinformation relating to the information processing apparatus 100 itself,to the information terminal (S1405).

When the information terminal can receive the terminal information fromthe information processing apparatus 100 that is the connection requestdestination (Yes of S1413), the information terminal next issues aconnection request to the cloud (S1414).

When the cloud receives the connection request from the informationterminal (Yes of S1421), the cloud transmits the connection completionnotice to the information terminal (S1422) and thereby completes theconnection with the information terminal (or the information processingapparatus 100 through the information terminal). In addition, the cloudmay also transmit the connection completion notice after executing theverification or the authentication process for the information terminaland the information processing apparatus 100.

When the information terminal receives the connection completion noticefrom the cloud that is the connection request destination (Yes ofS1415), the information terminal transmits a connection completionnotice to the information processing apparatus 100 (S1416) and therebycompletes the connection with the information processing apparatus 100.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100 receives theconnection completion notice from the information terminal that is theconnection request source (Yes of S1406) and thereby completes theconnection with the information terminal.

FIG. 15 exemplifies a process procedure for the information processingapparatus 100 and the cloud to be connected to each other. It is howeverassumed in FIG. 15 that the information processing apparatus 100 has thebiological sensor for user authentication mounted thereon. In addition,similar to the connection procedure depicted in FIG. 14, the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and the cloud may execute the connectionthrough a relaying apparatus such as the information terminal held bythe user while, in FIG. 15, for simplification of the description, therelaying apparatus is not depicted.

When the power source is turned on in response to the fact that therelease paper sheet (described above) is peeled off from the paste faceof the adhering part 103 (S1501), the information processing apparatus100 enters an standby state for the adhesion detection that detects thatthe information processing apparatus 100 adheres to the surface of thebody of the user using the adhering part 103 (S1502).

When the information processing apparatus 100 detects that the adheringpart 103 adheres to the surface of the body of the user (Yes of stepS1503), the information processing apparatus 100 next, using thebiological sensor, acquires the biological information to be theinformation for user authentication, that is, the user-specificinformation from the body of the user using the biological sensor (stepS1504). The information processing apparatus 100 thereafter issues aconnection request including the user-specific information to the cloud(S1505).

When the cloud receives the connection request from the informationprocessing apparatus 100 (Yes of S1511), the cloud transmits aconnection completion notice to the information processing apparatus 100(S1512) and thereby completes the connection with the informationprocessing apparatus 100. At this time, the cloud may transmit theconnection completion notice after executing the verification or theauthentication process for the user-specific information of the userhaving the information processing apparatus 100 adhering thereto.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100 receives theconnection completion notice of the cloud that is the connection requestdestination (Yes of S1506) and thereby completes the connection with theinformation terminal.

FIG. 16 exemplifies a process procedure for connecting the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and the cloud to each other. The connectionprocedure depicted in FIG. 16 differs from the connection proceduredepicted in FIG. 15 in the point that the accounts of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and the user having this adhering thereto arecorrelated with each other when the use of the information processingapparatus 100 is started (or at the time of its purchase). In addition,similar to the connection procedure depicted in FIG. 14, the informationprocessing apparatus 100 and the cloud may execute the connectionthrough a relaying apparatus such as the information terminal held bythe user while, in FIG. 16, for simplification of the description, therelaying apparatus is not depicted.

When the power source is turned on in response to the fact that therelease paper sheet (described above) is peeled off from the paste faceof the adhering part 103 (S1601), the information processing apparatus100 enters the standby state for the adhesion detection that detectsthat the information processing apparatus 100 adheres to the surface ofthe body of the user using the adhering part 103 (S1602).

When the information processing apparatus 100 detects that the adheringpart 103 adheres to the surface of the body of the user (Yes of stepS1603), the information processing apparatus 100 next acquires apparatusidentification information uniquely identifying the informationprocessing apparatus 100 from a memory in the control part (step S1604).The information processing apparatus 100 thereafter issues a connectionrequest including the apparatus identification information andinformation relating to the user account to the cloud (S1605).

When the cloud receives the connection request from the informationprocessing apparatus 100 (Yes of S1611), the cloud checks the receivedapparatus identification information and the user account and executes acorrelation process for these (S1612). The cloud next transmits aconnection completion notice to the information processing apparatus 100that is the connection request source (S1613) and thereby completes theconnection with the information processing apparatus 100.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus 100 receives theconnection completion notice of the cloud that is the connection requestdestination (Yes of S1606) and thereby completes the connection with theinformation terminal.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The technique disclosed herein has been described in detail as abovewith reference to the specific embodiment. It is however obvious thatthose skilled in the art can achieve modifications and substitutionswithin the scope not departing from the gist of the technique disclosedherein.

The information processing apparatus disclosed herein is a wearabledevice used by being adhered to the surface (the skin) of the body andis used by being adhered to each of the regions such as, for example, atemple, the glabella, the back of an ear, a region beneath the jaw, theneck, the root of the neck, the throat portion, an upper arm, a forearm,a wrist, the back of a hand, and the abdomen. Moreover, a similarinformation processing apparatus can be utilized as an IoT device bycausing this information processing apparatus to adhere to not the humanbody but each of various machines and articles.

In short, the technique disclosed herein has been described using theform of exemplification and the content of the description herein shouldnot be interpreted to be limiting. To determine the gist of thetechnique disclosed herein, the appended claims should be taken intoconsideration.

In addition, the technique disclosed herein can also take the followingconfigurations.

(1) An information processing apparatus including:

a sound pickup sensor that has a sound pickup function;

a communicating part that wirelessly transmits audio data picked up bythe sound pickup sensor to the outside;

a control part that controls the sound pickup sensor and thecommunicating part;

a power source part that supplies a power source to at least one of thesound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or the control part;

a housing part that accommodates therein at least one of the soundpickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, or the powersource part; and

an adhering part that fixes the housing part to a user.

(2) The information processing apparatus according to the above (1), inwhich

the sound pickup sensor is able to pick up a sound using fleshconduction of the user.

(3) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) or (2), further including:

an biological sensor that detects biological information of the user, inwhich

the control part controls processing for the audio data picked up by thesound pickup sensor on the basis of the biological information detectedby the biological sensor.

(4) The information processing apparatus according to the above (3), inwhich the control part controls intermittent reproduction of the audiodata on the basis of biological information detected by the biologicalsensor.

(5) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(3) or (4), in which the control part controls such that an integratedsignal having the audio data and the biological information synchronizedwith each other in the temporal direction is produced and is outputthrough the communicating part.

(6) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (5), further including:

an adhesion sensor that detects an adhesion state with the user in theadhering part, in which

the control part controls an operation of the information processingapparatus in accordance with the adhesion state detected by the adhesionsensor.

(7) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (6), further including:

an actuator.

(8) The information processing apparatus according to the above (7),including:

a speaker as the actuator, wherein

the housing part is fixed to the back of an ear of the user by theadhering part.

(9) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(7) or (8), including:

a displaying part as the actuator.

(10) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (9), further including:

an imaging sensor.

(11) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (10), further including:

plural types of sensors and plural types of actuators, in which

the control part controls the plural types of sensors and the pluraltypes of actuators.

(12) The information processing apparatus according to the above (11),in which

the control part controls at least turning on or off of each of thesensors and the actuators in accordance with a point at which thehousing part is fixed to the user using the adhering part.

(13) The information processing apparatus according to the above (11),further including:

a vibration sensor, in which

the control part controls at least turning on or off of each of thesensors and the actuators in accordance with a fixation point recognizedon the basis of vibration data of the body of the user detected by thevibration sensor.

(14) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (13), in which

the housing part has flexibility.

(14-1) The information processing apparatus according to any of theabove (1) to (14), in which

the housing part has a water-shedding property.

(14-2) The information processing apparatus according to any of theabove (1) to (14), in which

the surface of the housing part is in a skin color.

(15) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (14), further including:

a substrate part that has circuit pieces mounted thereon including thesound pickup sensor, the communicating part, and the control part, inwhich

the housing part accommodates therein the substrate part.

(16) The information processing apparatus according to the above (15),in which

the substrate part includes slits in at least two directions and hasflexibility or stretchability.

(17) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (16), in which

the adhering part includes one or more apertures.

(18) The information processing apparatus according to any of the above(1) to (17), further including:

a body fluid processing part that is stacked on the adhering part.

(18-1) The information processing apparatus according to the above (18),in which

the body fluid processing part has a moisture absorbing property ormoisture permeability.

(18-2) The information processing apparatus according to the above (18),in which

the body fluid processing part includes a mesh material that guides abody fluid using the capillary activity.

(18-3) The information processing apparatus according to the above (18),in which

the body fluid processing part includes a high-molecule polymer moistureabsorbing material.

(19) A control method for an information processing apparatus includinga sound pickup sensor that has a sound pickup function; a communicatingpart that wirelessly transmits audio data picked up by the sound pickupsensor to the outside; a power source part that supplies a power sourceto at least one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, orthe control part; a housing part that accommodates therein at least oneof the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, orthe power source part; and an adhering part that fixes the housing partto a user, the control method including steps of:

processing the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor, and

controlling transmission and reception processes through thecommunicating part.

(20) A recording medium that records thereon a computer program tocontrol an information processing apparatus including a sound pickupsensor that has a sound pickup function; a communicating part thatwirelessly transmits audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor tothe outside; a power source part that supplies a power source to atleast one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or thecontrol part; a housing part that accommodates therein at least one ofthe sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, orthe power source part; and an adhering part that fixes the housing partto a user, in which

the computer program is described in a computer readable format to causea computer to execute steps of:

processing the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensor, and

controlling transmission and reception processes through thecommunicating part.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   100 . . . Information processing apparatus    -   101 . . . Electric part,    -   102 . . . Housing part    -   103 . . . Adhering part,    -   104 . . . Body fluid processing part    -   310 . . . Sensor part    -   311 . . . First sensor part,    -   312 . . . Second sensor part    -   320 . . . Actuator part    -   321 . . . First actuator part,    -   322 . . . Second actuator part    -   330 . . . Communicating part    -   400 . . . Substrate,    -   401 . . . Sound pickup sensor,    -   402 . . . Control part    -   403 . . . Chip antenna,    -   404 . . . Power source part

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus,comprising: a plurality of types of sensors, wherein a first type ofsensor of the plurality of types of sensors is a sound pickup sensor,and the sound pickup sensor is configured to pick up audio data; aplurality of types of actuators; a communicating part configured towirelessly transmit the audio data picked up by the sound pickup sensorto an outside of the information processing apparatus; a control partconfigured to: control the plurality of types of sensors, the pluralityof types of actuators, and the communicating part; and control at leastone of turn on or turn off of each of the plurality of types of sensorsand each of the plurality of types of actuators; a power source part aconfigured to supply power to at least one of the sound pickup sensor,the communicating part, or the control part; a housing part thataccommodates therein at least one of the sound pickup sensor, thecommunicating part, the control part, or the power source part; and anadhering part configured to fix the housing part to a user at anadhesion point, wherein the control of the at least one of the turn onor the turn off is based on the adhesion point at which the housing partis fixed to the user.
 2. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the sound pickup sensor is further configured topick up a sound based on flesh conduction of the user.
 3. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a secondtype of sensor of the plurality of types of sensors is a biologicalsensor, the biological sensor is configured to detect biologicalinformation of the user, and the control part is further configured tocontrol process of the audio data based on the biological informationdetected by the biological sensor.
 4. The information processingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control part is furtherconfigured to control intermittent reproduction of the audio data basedon the biological information detected by the biological sensor.
 5. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein thecontrol part is further configured to: control generation of anintegrated signal; and control output of the integrated signal via thecommunicating part, the integrated signal includes the audio data andthe biological information, and the audio data is synchronized with thebiological information in a temporal direction.
 6. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second type ofsensor of the plurality of types of sensors is an adhesion sensor, theadhesion sensor is configured to detect an adhesion state of theadhering part with the user, and the control part is further configuredto control an operation of the information processing apparatus based onthe adhesion state detected by the adhesion sensor.
 7. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a type of actuator ofthe plurality of types of actuators is a speaker, and the housing partis fixed to a back of an ear of the user by the adhering part.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a type ofactuator of the plurality of types of actuators is a displaying part. 9.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein asecond type of sensor of the plurality of types of sensors is an imagingsensor.
 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a second type of sensor of the plurality of types of sensors isa vibration sensor, the vibration sensor is configured to detectvibration data of a body of the user, and the control part is furtherconfigured to recognize the adhesion point based on the vibration dataof the body of the user.
 11. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing part has flexibility.
 12. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a substrate part that includes circuit pieces, wherein thecircuit pieces are on the substrate part, the circuit pieces include thesound pickup sensor, the communicating part, and the control part, andthe housing part accommodates therein the substrate part.
 13. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thesubstrate part further includes slits in at least two directions, andthe substrate part has at least one of flexibility or stretchability.14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe adhering part includes at least one aperture.
 15. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bodyfluid processing part on the adhering part.
 16. A control method,comprising: in an information processing apparatus: picking up, by asound pickup sensor of the information processing apparatus, audio data,wherein the sound pickup sensor is a type of sensor of a plurality oftypes of sensors of the information processing apparatus; controlling,by a control part of the information processing apparatus, process ofthe audio data; wirelessly transmitting, by a communicating part of theinformation processing apparatus, the audio data picked up by the soundpickup sensor to an outside of the information processing apparatus;controlling, by the control part, the plurality of types of sensors, aplurality of types of actuators of the information processing apparatus,and the communicating part; controlling, by the control part, at leastone of turn on or turn off of each of the plurality of types of sensorsand each of the plurality of types of actuators; controlling, by thecontrol part, a reception process via the communicating part; supplying,by a power source part of the information processing apparatus, power toat least one of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or thecontrol part, wherein a housing part of the information processingapparatus accommodates therein at least one of the sound pickup sensor,the communicating part, the control part, or the power source part; andfixing, by an adhering part of the information processing apparatus, thehousing part to a user at an adhesion point, wherein the control of theat least one of the turn on or the turn off is based on the adhesionpoint at which the housing part is fixed to the user.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereoncomputer-executable instructions which, when executed by an informationprocessing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus toexecute operations, the operations comprising: picking up, by a soundpickup sensor of the information processing apparatus, audio data,wherein the sound pickup sensor is a type of sensor of a plurality oftypes of sensors of the information processing apparatus; controlling,by a control part of the information processing apparatus, process ofthe audio data; wirelessly transmitting, by a communicating part of theinformation processing apparatus, the audio data picked up by the soundpickup sensor to an outside of the information processing apparatus;controlling, by the control part, the plurality of types of sensors, aplurality of types of actuators of the information processing apparatus,and the communicating part; controlling, by the control part, areception process via the communicating part; controlling, by thecontrol part, at least one of turn on or turn off of each of theplurality of types of sensors and each of the plurality of types ofactuators; and supplying, by a power source part of the informationprocessing apparatus, power to at least one of the sound pickup sensor,the communicating part, or the control part, wherein a housing part ofthe information processing apparatus accommodates therein at least oneof the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, orthe power source part, an adhering part of the information processingapparatus is configured to fix the housing part to a user at an adhesionpoint, and the control of the at least one of the turn on or the turnoff is based on the adhesion point at which the housing part is fixed tothe user.
 18. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a soundpickup sensor configured to pick up audio data; a biological sensorconfigured to detect biological information of a user; a communicatingpart configured to wirelessly transmit the audio data picked up by thesound pickup sensor to an outside of the information processingapparatus; a control part configured to: control the sound pickup sensorand the communicating part; control process of the audio data based onthe biological information detected by the biological sensor; controlgeneration of an integrated signal; and control output of the integratedsignal via the communicating part, wherein the integrated signalincludes the audio data and the biological information, and the audiodata is synchronized with the biological information in a temporaldirection; a power source part configured to supply power to at leastone of the sound pickup sensor, the communicating part, or the controlpart; a housing part that accommodates therein at least one of the soundpickup sensor, the communicating part, the control part, or the powersource part; and an adhering part configured to fix the housing part tothe user.